Next Generation Poets 2014

What's so special about these 20 poets?

This promotion of British and Irish poets is now complete as far as the UK is concerned, with 23 events, including a gala celebration at the Southbank's Queen Elizabeth Hall, but the British CouncilThis government-supported body is best-known for its activities overseas, but in fact provides a great deal of information which is of interest to writers. http://www.britishcouncil.org/
Their UK Literature Festivals provides a full listing, but this is only as up to date as the information supplied by the individual festival organizers. will be touring the poets through their international offices.

In the meantime you can see for yourself on the fantastic website which has impressive video interviews and readings from the 20 poets, comments and introductions from Ian McMillan, Chair of the judges, biographies, blogs, reviews of all the books in the blog section and links to films which provide an insight into the poets and their poetry.

The Poetry Book Society, which is running the promotion, received 241 submissions from poetry publishers and the judging panel comprised poets Ian McMillan, Caroline Bird, Robert Crawford (from New Generation Poets), Paul Farley (from Next Generation Poets) and Clare Pollard. On 11 September 2014 the PBS announced the list of the most exciting new poets who have published their first collection in the decade from 1 May 2004 to 30 April 2014.

Next Generation Poets 2014 is a major poetry promotion which followed on from New Generation Poets in 1994 and Next Generation Poets in 2004. These earlier promotions launched the careers of many of today's leading British and Irish poets, including Carol Ann Duffy, Simon Armitage, Alice Oswald and Paul Farley. See the website for the two earlier lists.

Just added on YouTube are the two films of the poets, the five minute film and the longer ten-minute one which shows the poets reading.